Apparatus for slicing material in plug form.



A. W. FARRINGTON.

` APPARATUS FOR SLIGING MATERIAL IN PLUG FORM.

APPLICATIONAIILED MAY 10, 1909.

Patented Mar.8,1910.

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NDRgw n Gama/1M Cu, Puuo-uTNoGRAFHERS. WASHINGTON, 0v u ALANSON W.FARRINGTON, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR SLIOING MATERIAL IN PLUG FORM.

To all whom tt 'may concern:

Be it known that I, ALANsoN W. FAR- nlNe'roN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Salem, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Slicing Material in PlugForm, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawingrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to apparatus for dividing material into thinslices, and it has for its object the production of a simple, compactand durable apparatus particularly adapted for slicing plug tobacco insuch form that the slices may be readily broken up for use in a pipe.

Many pipe smokers use plug tobacco as a matter of preference overgranulated, shredded or other divided forms of tobacco, and sometimesthe plug can be sliced at the tobacconists, but in such case the tobaccotends to dry out very rapidly. As a result the use of a pocket knife isresorted to very frequently, to cut off from the plug enough tobacco forone or two fillings of the pipe,

the operation being quite slow and not always satisfactory.

My present invention enables a pipe smoker to use plug tobacco and toslice it from time to time as required, the apparatus being small andcompact and of relatively low cost, though it is to be understood thatthe apparatus is well adapted for commercial use in t-obacco stores.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described inthe subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in thefollowing claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a slicing l apparatus embodying one formof my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line 2 2,Fig. 1, looking toward the right; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionaldetail taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 4L; Fig. 4 is a front elevation ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1, but with the o erating handle omitted,the cutting or slicing blade being shown in its highest position; Fig. 5is a longitudinal section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4L; Fig. 6 is atransverse section taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 3, showing the cuttingblade as part way down, the plug stop or gage being omitted.

Referring to the drawings I have shown a rectangular receptacle lfor theplug P of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10, 1909.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 495,137.

tobacco or other material, Figs. 2 and 5, and indicated by dotted linesin F ig. 3, the receptacle being conveniently made of heavy sheet orplate metal pressed into shape and having lateral lips 2 on its sideedges at the top, for engagement with a sliding cover 3.

rlhe receptacle is supported on legs f1, fiXedly attached in anysuitable manner to the bottom thereof, and I have shown said legs asbent to form horizont-al feet 5, apertured as shown in Fig. 3 for thereception of screws by which to secure the apparatus on a table or otherfixed object if desired. At its rear end the receptacle has an attachedtubular extension (3 for the reception of a stem 7 passing into thereceptacle and having affixed to its inner end a transverse plate 8constituting a follower, which is longitudinally movable in thereceptacle and is pushed forward toward the front or open end thereof bya coiled spring 9 within the extension 6, see Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5the follower is adapted to bear against the plug P and push it forwardto be acted upon by the cutting member, to be referred to hereinafter.

The front of the apparatus is formed by an upright plate 10 of stiffsheet metal, having a rectangular opening 1l which registers with theopen front end of the receptacle 1 and of suliicient size for thepassage through it of the leading end of the plug. Ears 12 bent rearwardfrom and integral with the plate 10 bear against the outer faces of thesides of the receptacle and are rigidly attached thereto by suitablefastenings 13, said ears being conveniently formed from a part of themetal cut out to form the opening 11. Said plate 10 is stamped or shapedin its upper partto form on its rear face a housing 111 having tubular,rearwardly eX- tended bosses 15, 16, Figs. 1, 2 and 5, which formbearings respectively for the short shafts 17, 18 of a large gear 19 anda meshing pinion 20, the shafts being held in place by Cotter-pins orother suitable means. The shaft 18 is extended frontward beyond the faceof the plate 10 and has attached to it the hub 21 of a suitable handle22 by means of which the pinion and gear are rotated.

As shown best in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the parallel upright sides of theplate 1() are bent over at 23 to form open and parallel vertical guideswhich inclose and direct the movement` of the knife or cutter 24, madeas a steel plate shaped as shown clearly in Fig.

6 and pivotally connected to the gear 19 by a wrist-pin 25. Thewrist-pin passes through the cutter midway between its side edges and atits upper part, and by virtue of the eccentric connection with the gearthe cutter will be reciprocated vertically by rotation of the gear andit will also have a rocking or oscillating movement, as best shown bythe full and dotted lines in Fig. (i. The lower transverse edge 24X ofthe cutter is sharpened to form the cutting edge proper, and at one endof said edge I form a notch 2G to coperatie with a stop 27 crossing oneof the guides, see Figs. 5 and G. Said guides frictionally engage thefaces of the cutter Q4, and when the gear 19 is rotated in the directionof the arrow in Fig. 6 the cutter will be forced downward and rocked, sothatthe cut-ting edge 24X descends at an angle, to make a shear cut,beginning its cutting action at one side of the plug, and graduallyworking across the width thereof, as will be manifest. As the descent ofthe cutter continues after its edge enters the plug the stop 27 willenter the notch QG and at first there will be a slight longitudinalmovement of the edge 24X from full line position, Fig. 6, to the firstdotted line position, from right to left, until the upper end of thenotch strikes the stop, whereupon the latter acts as a fixed fulcrum onwhich the cutter rocks at its left hand lower corner as the rotation ofthe gear 19 continues until the wrist-pin Qis in its lowest position,and then the cutting edge 24X will have reached its extreme low positionand will have completed the cut, such position being shown by thelowermost dotted lines in Fig. 6. This cooperation of the stop and notchinsures a firm and powerful shear cut as the cutter traverses the plug,and provides for a clean cut, obviating any irregular movement of thecutter as it traverses the body of the plug.

After the slice has been cut the wrist-pin rises at the right of thecenter, Fig. G, and the left hand side of the cutter will lift and thecutter will rock or oscillate until it reaches its highest point, Fig.Lt, when its edge 24X will again be substantially horizontal and inreadiness to begin its next descent. It will be remembered that thefollower S is constantly act-ing to press forward the plug P through theopening 1l in the yfront plate 10, and were not some means provided tostop the plug it would be forced out of the receptacle l whenever thecutter was raised to its highest position. To prevent this action andalso to provide for regulating the thickness of the slice to be vcut Ihave provided an adjustable gage, and

herein I have shown an open frame 28 tixedly attached at 29 to the frontof the cutter. the sides of the frame moving therewith and resting uponthe outer faces of the guideforming portions Q3 of plate 10.

The transverse bottom bar 30 of the frame extends below the cutting edgeand across the opening ll of the front plate, so that if all slices wereto be of uniform thickness the leading end of the plug would pressdirectly against such bar and would be held during the descent of thecutter until the edge 24X thereof had bitten into the plug. Inasmuch,however, as it is desirable to provide for slices of different thicknessI have attached at 3l to the rear face of the bar 30 a strip 32 ofresilient metal, forming a gage, the free ends thereof being acted uponby screws 33 in the bar 30. lf the slice is to be thin the screws are.set. up to press p the ends of the gage 32 backward, so that the plugcan move forward a less distance, while a thicker slice is secured byturniing` back the screws to permit the ends of the gage to move forwardnearer the back of the bar 30, and thereby a greater feed movementof theplug is permitted.

As the gage and the frame on which it is adjustably mounted are fixedlyattached to the cutter 9A it will be manifest that said parts move inunison, and when the cutter has passed through the plug and cut; otl'the slice the gage will be down out of the way of the severed slice, butit will ris?v again to operative position before the cutter is elevatedclear of the end of the plug, and so will be in readiness to stop feedof the plug when the latter is released by the cutter. Thus the cutterand act alternately upon the leading end of the plug to prevent undueforward movement thereof due, to the spring-actuated follower. As a plugmay be considerably less in thickness than the depth of the receptacle.l there would in that case be a tendency to lift the leading end of theplug as the cutter rises. so that the plug would be improperlypositioned for the next cut. To obviate this I provide a downhold, madeas a segmental bar 34, pivoted at- 35 on the back of plate l0 and eX-tending under and part way around the housing 14C, Fig. 2, the free endof the downhold having a slot 36 for the reception of a set-screw 3T.The downhold projects into the receptacle l, the cover 3 being cut outfor the purpose, and bears against'l thc top of the plug, as in Figs. 2and 5, so that the latter is held from lifting as the cutter rises. Bymeans of the slot 3G and setscrew 37 the downhold can be adjusted tocooperate properly with the plug, as will be obvious.

The operation of th i appa atus is obvious. for by pulling back thecover 3 the follower 8 is retracted far enough for the admission of theplug` which at its leading end will be held against the gage 32, andafter the downhold 34 is adjusted the cover is slid back into place. Thehandle 22 is now turned and through the pinion 2O the gear 19 isrevolved and the operation of the cutter is effected as has beenpreviously eX- plained, the slices as cut falling out through the opengage carrier or frame above the bar 30 thereof.

The construction of the apparatus is compact, it is strong and durable,and by causing the edge of the cutter to act with a diagonal shear cutthe slicing is eected with a much less expenditure of power than wouldbe necessary were the entire edge of the cutter to engage initially theplug.

While my invention is particularly adapted for slicingplug tobacco, andreference throughout the specification has been made to the material asa plug it is to be understood that by such term l mean any material inthe form of a plug, so called, and my invention is not restricted merelyto slicing tobacco. Any material capable of being sliced, and in theform of a cake, bar or plug, may be acted upon with equal facility.

Various changes and modifications in details of construction andarrangement may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the annexedclaims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is Vl. In apparatus of the class described, areceptacle for the material, having an open end, a follower to effectautomatically feed of the material through the open end of thereceptacle, a cutter movable in a path across such open end, means toreciprocate and rock the cutter and cause it to pass through thematerial with a shear cut, and a gage fixedly connected with the cutterand movable therewith to limit feed movement of the material when thecutter is retracted from engagement therewith.

9.. ln apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for the material,having an open end, a spring-actuated follower' to feed the materialthrough the open end of the receptacle, a cutter movable in a pathacross such open end, means to actuate the cutter and cause it to passthrough the material with a shear cut, an open frame fixedly attached tosaid cutter and having a transverse portion below the cutting edge ofthe cutter, a gage to stop feed movement of the material when the cutteris retracted, and means to adjustably connect the gage with thetransverse portion of the open frame.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a cutter, means to reciprocateand also to rock the same to effect a shear cut, means to feed thematerial into position to be engaged and sliced by the cutter, and agage extended transversely below the cutting edge of the cutter andfixedly connected therewith to move in unison with it, said gageengaging the leading end of the material and limiting feed movementthereof when the cutter is retracted therefrom.

ll. ln apparatus of the class described, parallel guides, a cutter'cooperating therewith, means connected with the cutter to reciprocateand oscillate it between the guides and effect a shearing cut on theactive stroke, and means to present automatically the material to theaction of the cutter.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a cutter movable in a verticalpath, means to reciprocate the cutter and also to rock the same toeffect a shear cut, means to feed the material automatically intoposition to be sliced, and an adjust-able gage fixedly con nected withthe cutter to coperatie with the material and regulate the thickness ofthe slice to be out therefrom.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a cutter, means to reciprocateand also to rock it to effect a shear cut, spring-actuated means to feedthe material, and a gage fixedly connected with the cutter and movablein unison therewith at a constant distance below its cutting edge andadapted to engage the material and limit its feed movement when thecutter is retracted therefrom.

7. In apparatus of the class described, upright parallel guides, acutter movable bctween them and having an elongated cutting edge, arotating member eccentrically connected with the cutter, to effect byits continuous rotation reciprocation and rocking of the cutter in theguides, whereby the cutting edge acts with a shearing cut, means to feedthe material into the cutter path, and a gage to limit such feedmovement.

S. In apparatus of the class described, upright parallel guides, acutter movable between them and having an elongated cutting edge, arotating member eccentrically connected with the cutter, to effectreciprocation and rocking of the cutter in the guides, whereby thecutting edge acts with a shearing cut, a device to temporarily engageand act as a fulcrum for the lower corner of the descending cutter,means to feed the material into the cutter path, and an adjustable gagelixedly connected with the cutter to limit such feed movement andregulate the thickness of the slice to be cut.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for the'material,having an open end, an upright plate rigidly attached to said receptacleand having an opening for the passage of the material, means to feed thematerial through the opening, guides on the plate, a gear rotatablymounted on the latter, a cutter movable between the guides and pivotallyconnected with the gear eccentric to its center, means to rotate thegear to thereby effect by its .continuous rotation a reciprocating androcking movement of the cutter, and a gage to limit feed movement of thematerial.

llO

the plate,

10. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for the material,having an open end, an upright plate rigidly attached to said receptacleand having an opening for the passage of the material, means to feed thematerial through the opening, guides on a gear rotatably mounted on thelatter, a cutter movable between the. guides and pivotally connectedwith the gear eccentric to its center, means to rotate the gear tothereby effect a reciprocating` and rocking movement of the cutter, anopen carrier attached to the cutter, and an adjustable gage mounted onthe carrier and located below the edge of the cutter, said gage limitingfeed of the material when the cutter is retracted and moving out ofengagement with the material as the cutter traverses the same.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for the material,having an open end, a follower to effect automatically feed of thematerial through the open end of the receptacle, a cutter movable in apath across such open end, means to reciprocate and rock the cutter andcause it to pass through the material with a shear cut, an open framefixedly attached to the cutter, and a gage mounted on the frame andadapted to engage and limit feed movement of the material. l

l2. In apparatus of the class described, means to support and feed thematerial to be sliced, a cutter movable in a path aty right angles tofeed movement of the material` means to reciprocate and also rock thecut ter to present its cutting edge diagonally to the material, andmeans to temporarily engage the lower corner of the deseem'ling` cut.-ter -and cause the latter to rock upon said means as a fulcrum as thecutting edge passes through the material.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

ALANSON W. FA RHIN GT( )N.

lVitnesses BERTHA F. HnUsnn, THOMAS J. DnUnmroNn.

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